I was traveling for work and one of the things I have always wanted to do in San Francisco was visit a bookstore. Yes, it sounds odd, but it is something I have always wanted to do. I looked up a place on yelp and decided to make the trek to Browser Books as it was only half a mile from the hotel I was staying at. ( Kabuki Hotel ) I arrived at the bookstore five minutes later and asked the front desk clerk if he carried the book titled " Always and forever Lara Jean" by Jenny Han. His response was "NO". Dumb me... I should have called and asked before trekking there. I decided to browse through each aisle then I headed back to my hotel. Overall, I had fun. read more

This place has the best selection of classics I have ever encountered in San Francisco. It has all the English classics, about 10 different versions/editions of Moby Dick, for example. It also has pretty much every book on the "100 best books of all times" list. Not that these books are easy reads - I have tried and usually have three of these going at a time to simply speed up the action and make it interesting for me. But I do keep picking them up and getting them, thinking of the glimpses of wisdom that are going to shine from these pages. In addition to all the English classics, it has the French classics - although the translation of these can be hit or miss. So, before you buy the translations, please check who does them. Since you are essentially reading the translator and not the original author. The selection of modern books is also excellent. The staff is not as knowledgeable about the books I've asked about as I would hope them to be. It could be, though, that I keep asking about obscure books and classics. Perhaps they are more knowledgeable about more modern books. The store a real little gem. Worth checking it out. Chances are, you will find what you are looking for here. read more

I love supporting independent bookstores. I bought three books here today and am extremely happy with my purchase. Browser's is always well stocked and the employee's are very helpful. One time I went in and the clerk went waaay out of his way to help me. This is a great bookstore. read more

Great literary fiction selection, primarily British and American authors. The staff is generally helpful in looking up titles and ordering them if they're not in-store. Love coming here with my dog and browsing! read more

Small but very thorough selection of books. I love the lamps strewn throughout the place, and I could get lost for hours in the fiction and mysteries sections (perhaps because shelves jaunt out at odd angles, but still...). The staff are friendly, too, and can easily point you in the direction of a good read. read more

Books + Peet's next door + Marc Jacobs across the street= Perfect stroll in White People Heights.

Good selection in convenient area. What earns the 5 star review though is the EXTREMELY knowledgeable staff who've always been extremely helpful/accommodating in whatever question I've had or books that needed to be located. What I don't understand is how some books that are missing or not in stock at Green Apple or City Lights, have shown up here. This has happened more than once and I've never had a difficult time with anyone there. Highly recommended. read more

This space is small but cozy and sweet. Staff is friendly and helpful. Great selection and ambiance.

I bought a Bruce Springsteen bio a few year ago and was happy to support this local bookstore. When I visit again, I'll stop by. Sure Amazon is cheaper and has a bigger selection but we can't let them kill off every local bookstore. read more

"Aaaaahhh" that is literally the unintentional sound I make when I walk into bookstores... kinda weird and embarassing, but for some reason there are few places on eart that make me as happy, relaxed, and stomach-turning-excited as a bookstore. Unfortunately the one thing I cannot do at Browser is browse. They have a constantly revolving and fantastic selection of books on sale. My favorite part is that Browser's staff are like bartenders. I tell them what I feel like, they ask me what I usually like, they recommend some new and fantastic material I've never experienced before. If only they sold used books, I would pledge monogamous allegiance to Browsers. read more

I love neighborhood bookstores (not chains like Barnes and Noble, and the like), so I was delighted to find this gem across the street from me in Pac Heights! The selection is great and the staff super friendly. The chairs in the back are also great for sitting and reading. I will surely be back! read more

You put together a no-nonsense high-quality independent bookstore with Peets Coffee and an art cinema a block away, and you got a great neighborhood ! I have loved Browser Books since the 80s. read more

Stopped in Browser last weekend to pick up a baby shower gift. They have a great selection of children's books, and the staff is super friendly. I will be back to check out their selection next time I am looking for a new book for myself! read more

This has got to be my favorite place on Fillmore, next to Bittersweet. I rarely go to a bookstore to get a specific title, more for the nice feeling of being surround by books, and looking at all the pretty cover designs, and making mental notes of books I want to read but will never get to because I read so darn slow. Anyway, I love the genuine neighborhood feeling I get when I'm in here, and this one gets a plus for having lots of good discounted books. Being next to Peet's and Coffee Bean, you can always count on BB smelling like coffee. For me that's not a bad thing. And that birdie sure is cute. But I get sad about caged birds. Well, support independent booksellers! read more

I'm so excited, it's June 26th, 2007 and the new Jackie Collins' book is out! Yes, she is my ultimate reading weakness. There's nothing like reading a Jackie Collins' book, total brain candy (ie...explicit sexual soap opera of the rich and famous). So, I walk into the book store and browse the books and realize they don't have one Jackie Collins book anywhere on the shelf or the table. Why is this not on the front bookshelf with all the other newbies? I ask the sales associate for the new Jackie Collins book and she replies with "we don't carry her books; you are in the wrong bookstore" (as her lip was snarled and she stood ever so tall behind the counter, completely looking down upon me). So yes, that day broke my reading heart a bit. But I've been back since then and purchased many NYTimes bestsellers and other great works, but no Jackie. This bookstore is cool, I just wish the staff were a bit nicer...yes, it's Pac Heights, but don't take yourself that serious. read more

In Hollywood, there are plenty of movies that take place in SF in which characters always hang out in small, intimate, old fashioned bookstores that I always wish the exact same one would exist in my neighborhood. Well, BB is like that. I walked in there and immediately thought I was in a cool flim clip. The store is small, but so well organized so that you can easily find the book you want. It's old fashioned due to its small size and dated bookshelves. But the older it appears, the better appeal it has. Best part, they don't kick you out cuz you're carrying a cup of coffee. Although I wasn't looking for one, but quickly fell in love with a book on Buddhism. B@B&B = Buddhism @ Browser Books! read more

Awesome neighborhood book store. Cozy, homey, great for browsing. I could spend hours in here -- and have on many a weekend.

I can't walk by a good book store without walking in! This store had a great vibe & quite a few interesting books. It's a very small store and being so close to Christmas it was understandably packed. The staff were very friendly to every person walking through & they put a smile on a lot of faces! The large collection of non-fiction worked well for me ;) read more

Great selection! I wish they had more non-fiction. And more in the arts and design section. But their fiction selection is amazing! Friendly staff! read more

Excellent selections from what I saw in psychology, philosophy, religion, business, food, politics. I could have spent all day browsing. Small but didn't smell stuffy. Definitely looking forward to spending another Sunday afternoon here. read more

On any given visit to Browser Books, the staff was able to help me out--definitely knowledgeable. Friendly, however, not so much. In most cases I find the book I'm looking for...would much rather patronize a small local bookstore than Borders and the like. I definitely go for the quaint, cozy feel with the knowledgeable staff....though Apple Bookstore is all that and the staff is friendlier, (The difference must lay in the venues locations.) read more

The place looks good. But I kid you not the people that works there are not very friendly. This is nothing personal, but I was shocked at how pompous and rude they were. If you have a choice try another location like City Lights Books or Dog Earred. read more

Browser books so far has always helped me out when I was in need to find a hard-to-find book. The staff is extremly knowledgable and their books selection (classics) is incredible. For newer books, they have them, usually on a table so you can browse thru them, but I feel it is not their main focus. read more

Such a great little shop. Floor to ceiling - it's packed! I can get lost in here.

Love the atmosphere of this little shop. They offered a great selection for adults and children. I would say it's the perfect place to find a gift! I sat in the store for almost an hour with my 7yo child and we quietly browsed the books. None of the employees seemed to be annoyed by this and even though I did not purchase anything today, I know this is where I will return when I need to buy a book. The employees seemed to be genuinely helpful and knew at least one thing about every book/author customers asked them about. Didn't give 5 stars because I wish they had a rewards program read more

my husband and i have been shopping here for over ten years. we used to be a couple of blocks away but we moved yet we still make the effort to go there to support privately owned businesses instead of the big chains that are putting them out of business. KEN HAD MAJOR ATTITUDE AND HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE when he rang us up and had a smart response for everything as well. that $70 was the last they're going to get from us. they may have their bellies full from all the business and not care but customer service is a basic for any business. HELLO BORDERS, GOODBYE BROWSERS read more

Excellent editions, including Oxford World's Classics, Penguin Classics and Norton Critical Editions, rather than the cheapest swill possible that you see in most bookstores. Great selection of literature, philosophy and history. read more

This message is to the owners of Browser Books. I went your book store to buy a birthday present. I love books so I always buy books as presents for all my friends' children. The woman who was working at the time (Sally is her name) is the rudest person I've ever dealt with in a store, when I told her she was being rude she tried to help me but it was already too late. When I went to the front and I told her that I work in customer service she, once again, apologized and proceeded to tell me she was having a bad day and that she had been working by herself all morning. There will never be a valid excuse to be rude to customers, and if bad days affect her work ethics, then, she shouldn't work in a place were she has to deal with the public. We all have bad days, but we cannot go around letting out our frustrations upon people, especially upon possible customers. Too bad this book store has such a rude person working there and the saddest part is that this type of book stores are disappearing and a lot sooner this will happen if they keep employing people who have no idea how to treat customers. read more

One of my favorite places to stop by on a Saturday afternoon to complete my need for non-fiction escape's.

Fulfill your wanderlusts, nostalgic thirst, secret fantasies in this cozy corner of dear books of now and old. The one place I can lose track of time without any sense of loss or regret. The one place I oddly, rebelliously, and willfully ignore my phone/texts/calls. Hallelujah read more

I just went into this book store to buy a book from the tables outside. I thought it would take about 2 minutes, but when I went in the employee was talking to 2 people and checking them out. He saw me when I was walking in but didn't say anything to me even though I walked up right behind the people checking out. He proceeded to talk to them for 10 more minutes without saying anything to me even though he had checked them out when I first got there. He even left the counter to go show them something they didn't even ask for. I set my book on the counter and he still was talking to the people even when I was in front of them at the counter. When he finally got to me he was extremely rude and didn't apologize at all for making me wait. I accidentally brought in food and all he said was a rude comment about not "liking food in the store" and I wasn't even walking around I stayed at the counter the entire time. This is a really neat book store, but the employee ruined it. Unfortunate. read more

You know, I was thinking that if I were to enumerate the things I don't like about Browser Books, my list would stop at one. But anyway, here goes: 1. They don't really have anywhere you can sit (like, uh, a chair) with a book while you're in the store. But I guess that's why they call it Browser Books, and not Sit Down and Take a Load Off for A While Books. Helpful, knowledgeable staff knows their way around the small store--and, incidentally, can also aid you in finding the book you're looking for. And you just feel better shopping here than at the big guys, like Barnes & Noble or Borders. read more

I love going here because you feel like you are in an actual bookstore as opposed to the book/magazine/ gift/calendar/ music/coffee/study hall/hangout store that have become so common. It is so quaint and cozy and I have always found what I came looking for. read more

This store will rip you away from the stale Borders Books and other mega-bookstores. Great service and there is some kind of order to finding books...but it's not obvious. Left with two books... read more

Strangest thing, I always find what I want in this store. It is just so nice to have a well-stocked bookstore with friendly people a couple of blocks from one's house. I buy a lot of books from Browser Books and so far have found every title I went in for. Just finished Eat Pray Love...need a new book, I think I will go there tomorrow! read more

Decent book store with shelves and shelves of books. The back of the store reminds me of the "The Neverending Story". I was expecting to find a dusty magical book, instead found psychology and children's books. Some areas are really tight to get around. Several shelves need reorganizing but I think they're just running out of room. I don't believe there are any magazines. read more

Small neighborhood bookstores are always the best. This small space has tucked every nook and cranny with books. The service is always friendly, during the holidays they offer gift wrapping and it's just what you need when you don't want to be in a mega store. read more

From what I've seen so far this place has a great selection for such a thy place - I haven't gone in and not found the exact thing I wanted to read. And when ice come in not sure the aisles have little suggestions and descriptions of books - finally a cure for the indecisive reader who doesn't want to ask for help! I will say that they do charge full price and some of the books are not in tip top shape - the main reason I'm giving this place four stars instead of 5. read more

One of the best neighborhood book stores I have ever experienced. Whether I wanted the perfect book for a road trip or a great read for the beach, the helpful staff has been spot on. read more

Good neighborhood book store. Nice selection. The kind of place you you can hang out and browse for something for a short while.